Caution! Spoilers ahead!
This is a review of both the book and the movie. Read on to find out why!
One of the inherent difficulties in bringing a book to the big screen is that there exists a time constraint with movies that doesn’t apply to the world of literature. Alas, such is the case with The Martian. But in Ridley Scott’s (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator) capable hands, this film does manage to hit all the main points in Andy Weir’s excellent novel.
Matt Damon plays Mark Watney, an astronaut that finds himself stranded on Mars after his crew is forced to abort their mission during a ferocious storm. Thinking Watney is dead after he’s blown away by debris, the ARES III crew leaves the red planet, heartbroken.
But Watney survives, and the ensuing hour plus reveals his creative and heroic efforts to survive. The film’s adherence to the book’s tone and snappy, often funny dialogue, Dariusz Wolski’s breathtaking cinematography, and strong performances all around make The Martian a truly enjoyable experience. And kudos to Damon who has a knack for playing affable characters that you genuinely root for. He fully commits to roles by making the necessary physical alterations to his appearance and this role is no exception. By the end of his time on Mars, Watney’s food rationing has whittled his frame down to unhealthy levels, a point that is underscored in a few cringe-worthy shots.
But like most adaptations, time constraints limit character development. Weir’s novel reads as half-journal, half third-person narrative, which takes you further into the characters’ lives than the movie could ever hope to do in its 2 hours plus. The book also explains the science in much more detail than in the film, and sets up Watney’s predicament so that when certain events happen, you know why. And the movie leaves out many of Watney’s struggles. The book’s ending felt much more satisfying because I clearly understood and appreciated everything he had been through to get to that point…and I can neither confirm nor deny that I cried happy tears at the book’s conclusion.
Despite’s the book’s superiority, the film makes for a fun night out. And with Mars being in the news as much as it has been recently, it provides some good fodder for conversation. It might be fun to hear what your kids think about what life would be like if people could live on that planet!
The Martian is rated PG-13 for some profanity and one shot of Matt Damon’s naked backside. Probably not suitable for really young children but OK for older kids and teens. The film clocks in at a hefty 2 hours and 22 minutes so be sure you’re not starving when the previews begin (speaking from experience here). I highly recommend you read the book before you see the movie because the science will make so much more sense (in that regard, the movie is not the Cliff’s Notes version of the book. Sorry!).
